Sinking Creek is a stream in Scott and Russell counties,

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

, in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. Sinking Creek was so named because it sinks underground and resurfaces downstream. Beginning south of the

Clinch River The Clinch River is a river that flows southwest for more than through the Great Appalachian Valley in the U.S. states of Virginia and Tennessee, gathering various tributaries, including the Powell River, before joining the Tennessee River in Ki ...

, Sinking Creek actually crosses the Clinch underground before resurfacing on the northern side of the Clinch, where the two join. It is thought to be one of few streams in the world—perhaps the only stream—to be found on both sides of the river that it flows into. This occurrence is likely due to the unique

karst topography Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...

exhibited throughout the region.

References

Rivers of Russell County, Virginia Rivers of Scott County, Virginia Rivers of Virginia {{Virginia-river-stub

See also

References